Sintflutbrunnen

Gazing at the Sintflutbrunnen, one can’t help but feel a sense of unease. The Sintflutbrunnen, or Deluge Fountain, depicts a terrifying scene. It captures the raw emotion of a biblical flood. The fountain was originally created for the 1896 Paris World’s Fair. It once graced the German Pavilion there. The renowned German sculptor Paul Aichele designed this evocative piece. Aichele, born in 1859, studied at the Stuttgart School of Applied Arts. He continued his artistic journey in Berlin. The Sintflutbrunnen is considered his masterpiece. He tragically died in 1920. The fountain found its way to Berlin in 1909. Banker and entrepreneur Georg Haberland donated it to the Friedenau community. It initially stood in Hamburger Platz, at the upper Südwestkorso. In the 1930s, it was moved to its current location. This relocation made way for the expansion of the Friedenau cemetery. By 1931, it had been moved to the former Maybachplatz. Today, this is known as Perelsplatz. Landscape architect Fritz Zahn designed Perelsplatz in 1907 as a green urban space. He incorporated birch trees, yew trees, and lush rhododendrons. The Sintflutbrunnen stands as a centerpiece in this tranquil setting. The fountain is approximately five meters high. A large shell-limestone basin forms the base. The basin measures about seven meters in diameter. A large rock rises from the center. On this rock sits a sculpted group of figures, made of sandstone. At the lower part of the rock, a couple struggles against the rising waters. They desperately try to avoid drowning. Atop the rock, a woman clutches her child. She holds the child high, having saved it with great effort. The Sintflutbrunnen symbolizes the struggle for survival. The small group of figures encapsulates the desperate fight for the last safe place amidst the flood.